by our College Data Analytics TeamCollege Factual looked at 252 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 20,581 master's degrees in special education during the 2021-2022 academic year.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The special ed master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality special ed program can vary widely even among the top schools. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our complete ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for special education students working on their master's degree.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.
Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in special education. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Hunter College is one of the finest schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in special education. Hunter is a fairly large public college located in the city of New York.
Special Education master's degree recipients from Hunter College get an earnings boost of around $19,518 above the typical earnings of special education majors.
More information about a master’s in special education from Hunter College
Ball State University is a great decision for individuals pursuing a master's degree in special education. Located in the small city of Muncie, Ball State is a public university with a very large student population.
After graduation, special ed master's recipients generally earn around $58,958 at the beginning of their careers.
More information about a master’s in special education from Ball State University
Brooklyn College is a great choice for students interested in a master's degree in special education. Located in the large city of Brooklyn, Brooklyn College is a public college with a fairly large student population.
Master's recipients from the special education major at Brooklyn College get $20,014 above the standard college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in special education from Brooklyn College
Any student who is interested in a master's degree in special education has to check out Syracuse University. Located in the medium-sized city of Syracuse, Syracuse is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Those special education students who get their master's degree from Syracuse University make $2,383 more than the standard special ed graduate.
More information about a master’s in special education from Syracuse University
TCNJ is a medium-sized public college located in the large suburb of Ewing.
Special Education master's degree recipients from The College of New Jersey earn a boost of around $7,095 above the typical earnings of special education graduates.
More information about a master’s in special education from The College of New Jersey
CCNY is a large public college located in the city of New York.
Master's recipients from the special education major at The City College of New York earn $19,172 more than the standard college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in special education from The City College of New York
Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public university with a very large student population.
Master's recipients from the special education major at California State University - Los Angeles get $26,319 above the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in special education from California State University - Los Angeles
Located in the large suburb of Brookville, LIU Post is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.
Those special education students who get their master's degree from LIU Post earn $18,204 more than the standard special ed graduate.
More information about a master’s in special education from LIU Post
UCONN is a very large public university located in the fringe town of Storrs.More information about a master’s in special education from University of Connecticut
Located in the large suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public university with a very large student population.
Those special education students who get their master's degree from George Mason University earn $4,332 more than the standard special ed student.
More information about a master’s in special education from George Mason University
QC is a fairly large public college located in the large city of Queens.
Master's recipients from the special education degree program at Queens College make $16,832 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in special education from Queens College
UST MN is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Saint Paul.
Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program report average early career wages of $58,812.
More information about a master’s in special education from University of St Thomas Minnesota
UF is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.
Master's graduates who receive their degree from the special ed program earn around $51,147 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in special education from University of Florida
Hofstra is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Hempstead.
Those special education students who get their master's degree from Hofstra University receive $18,600 more than the average special ed graduate.
More information about a master’s in special education from Hofstra University
Illinois State is a fairly large public university located in the midsize suburb of Normal.
After graduation, special ed master's recipients typically make about $56,893 in their early careers.
More information about a master’s in special education from Illinois State University
UMN Twin Cities is a fairly large public university located in the city of Minneapolis.
Master's students who receive their degree from the special ed program earn around $53,829 in their early career salary.
More information about a master’s in special education from University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Located in the large suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program report average early career wages of $53,653.
More information about a master’s in special education from Molloy College
Adelphi is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Garden City.
Master's recipients from the special education degree program at Adelphi University earn $9,909 more than the standard college graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in special education from Adelphi University
Located in the large city of Queens, STJ is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.
Master's recipients from the special education major at St John's University - New York get $17,777 more than the standard college grad in this field shortly after graduation.
More information about a master’s in special education from St John’s University - New York
Towson is a fairly large public university located in the small city of Towson.
Master's recipients from the special education degree program at Towson University get $7,158 above the typical graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
More information about a master’s in special education from Towson University
Located in the large city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program report average early career wages of $59,238.
More information about a master’s in special education from Boston University
National University is a large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of San Diego.
Special Education master's degree recipients from National University get an earnings boost of about $13,008 above the typical earnings of special education majors.
More information about a master’s in special education from National University
Located in the city of Philadelphia, St. Joe's is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program state that they receive average early career earnings of $56,588.
More information about a master’s in special education from Saint Joseph’s University
Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit college with a large student population.
Students who graduate with their master's from the special ed program state that they receive average early career earnings of $59,583.
More information about a master’s in special education from Boston College
Located in the large suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public university with a very large student population.
Those special education students who get their master's degree from University of Maryland - College Park receive $9,726 more than the typical special ed grad.
More information about a master’s in special education from University of Maryland - College Park
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools award.
View the Best Special Education Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Special Education has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Teacher Education Grade Specific | 30,169 |
| Educational Administration | 27,992 |
| Teacher Education Subject Specific | 17,793 |
| General Education | 16,667 |
| Curriculum & Instruction | 16,015 |
| Student Counseling | 12,915 |
| Instructional Media Design | 7,194 |
| Teaching English or French | 3,257 |
| Other Education | 1,679 |
| Educational Assessment | 1,237 |
